The city seems to slip away and you're surrounded by two other-worldly landscapes featuring 350 species of exotic plants. 50 different types of butterflies, birds, reptiles and amphibians flutter, climb and crawl through naturalistic habitats. The Glasshouse is unique among conservatories because it shows how plants, animals, geology and climate interact in delicate balance.

In 2017, new lighting was installed in the Glasshouse to replace the original light fixures, which were put in place when the Glasshouse was constructed 15 years ago. These improvements in lighting technology, including 120 new LED lights, enable the lighting to change color in different preprogrammed themes to set the mood for various shows, allows a nighttime exterior view of the Glasshouse to evening visitors and reduces the Botanical Garden's carbon footprint, while also reducing operating costs.